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I keep my mouth closed and wait for them to leave before slamming my fist into the concrete wall. Moments later, the security detail opens the door and escorts me to my car. At this point, I’m frantic. I don’t know where Marissa is. I haven’t had a chance to speak to her since the race was stolen from her, and I know how devastated she must be. She needs me now more than ever, but instead of consoling her, I’m out here alone.
My cell phone rings, and I rip it from my pocket. My heart drops when I see it’s not Marissa on the line.
“Andrika, what’s going on?”
“I spoke to the committee.”
“I know. They told me. Where’s Marissa?”
“I took her back to the hotel. She’s in your room.”
I hop into the car. I need to see my girl and let her know that I’ll fix this for her. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m not leaving Paris until the gold medal is around her neck.
I race to the room and find her seated on the bed. She smiles at me, but her eyes are bloodshot and her nose is red.
“The bronze medal isn’t that bad. I mean, third place in my first Olympics is an accomplishment, right?”
I grab her and pull her to my chest. “You didn’t earn the bronze. You earned the gold. Andrika and I both saw it with our own eyes.”
“But, you can’t prove it, right? I know my time was better than they say. I could feel it, but they wouldn’t believe that either. We should just take the bronze and try to live with it. What else can we do?”
“I’m not letting this happen to you. I’ll figure it out. I’ll find a way to make them see the truth.”
“Thank you, I mean it. The way that you look out for me is everything, but they told me you’ve been banned for life. I don’t think there’s anything you can do. It’s okay. Mistakes happen and sometimes we have to live with them.”
“Well, I can’t live with that. Nobody fucks my girl over and gets away with it.”
“But what can you do? You can’t make them do anything…I really wanted to win….” She breaks down in my arms, and it’s like a hot knife piercing my gut.
“What can I do for you right now, baby girl? Is there anything you need?”
“I could use some pain medicine. My head is on fire. Do you have anything?”
“No, but I can go down to the gift shop and get something. I’ll be right back,” I tell her and head to the elevator.
As I exit the gift shop, I see Everet King leaning against the wall. He looks as if he’s been waiting for me so I approach him.
“What do you want, punk? Even somebody as dumb as you should know that this is not the time.”
“Tough break, huh? What do they call it? The fickle finger of fate and all that. You think time is a constant, that is until it isn’t.”
“What the fuck are you babbling about? Is anyone ever impressed by your bullshit?”
“A lot of people are, actually. Maybe it’s because I know that brute force isn’t always the best way to handle a situation.”
“Again, make sense or shut the fuck up. I have more important things to deal with than you. Why don’t you go stick your nose back up Katrina Lee’s ass?”
“So, you don’t want to know how it happened?”
“How what happened?” I heave my shoulders. I’ve grown very tired of this little twit and like nothing more than to just end him.
“How your girl went from gold to bronze in a flash.”
I step toward him, pinning him against the wall with my body. “Did you have something to do with this?”
“I had everything to do with this. Did you know how little those timekeepers get paid? It’s sad really. They’re practically slave labor. You’d be amazed what they’re willing to do for a thousand U.S. dollars.”
“You fixed the race? You fucking piece of shit. Tell me why!”
“Because I don’t like you. I’ve been chasing Marissa since our first division competition together when we were twelve. Do you know how frustrating it is to see her shack up with a used-up, old man like you? She doesn’t deserve the gold or all of the success and attention that comes after. Not if she hitches herself to someone like you.”
I press my chest against him and pin him in place. “And what? If she fell for your bullshit, she’d be worthy? Damn, you must have a death wish coming here and talking to me like this.”
“No, I don’t have a death wish. When I think about you beating me up, I think about how easy it would be to slide into your spot while you rot away in a Paris jail. Then, I can console Marissa while she feels responsible for my battered face. Imagine the things I could ask her to do to make it up to me.”
